More Luke Rockhold

Biography

TRAINING: Mon, Wed, Fri are sparring days - I show up at 11:30 am for warm up and bag work. We begin sparring about 12:20 pm, which consists of five five minute rounds with two or more different opponents. After, we drill or do more bag work until grappling starts, which is three to five five minute rounds ending around 2:00 pm. Tuesdays are wrestling days - 12-2 pm drilling, technique and live wrestling. Thursdays are jiu-jitsu days. 12-2 pm technique for an hour and ten five minute rounds of live jiu-jitsu. Night training varies from kickboxing or jiu-jitsu training, followed by a cardiovascular workout running or airdyne bike.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training MMA when I was 22 because I liked to fight and needed a job. I also had been training different disciplines for most of my life, from judo to wrestling to jiu-jitsu, so I knew I could compete at a high level.

What ranks and titles have you held? Strikeforce middleweight champion, California high school wrestling state qualifier. Blue belt and purple belt world champion in jiu-jitsu. Currently a brown belt in jiu-jitsu.

Do you have any heroes? No specific heroes, just a lot of people I look up to and try to learn from.

What does it mean for you to fight in STRIKEFORCE? It means a lot. It’s been my job and my life for the past 4 years.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Yes, no degrees though; I dropped out to fight and pursue my dreams.

What was your job before you started fighting? Construction / solar panel installation.

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? I never sat on the stool.

Favorite grappling technique: wrestling / jiu-jitsu

Favorite Striking technique: kickboxing

TRAINING: Training is always the same - sparring five rounds, 3 days a week, followed by drills and grappling. Wrestling sucks on Tuesdays. Strength/conditioning and boxing Thursday and Saturday and a whole lot of cardio almost every night.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training MMA when I was 22 because I liked to fight and needed a job. I also had been training different disciplines for most of my life, from judo to wrestling to jiu-jitsu, so I knew I could compete at a high level.

What ranks and titles have you held? Strikeforce middleweight champion, California high school wrestling state qualifier. Blue belt and purple belt world champion in jiu-jitsu. Black belt (Jiu-Jitsu), Red belt (Le-jitsu).

Do you have any heroes? No specific heroes, just a lot of people I look up to and try to learn from.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means a lot. It’s been my job and my life for years.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Yes, no degrees though; I dropped out to fight and pursue my dreams.

What was your job before you started fighting? Construction / solar panel installation.

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? I never sat on the stool.